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5 tactical gameplay errors
Paul from Pickleball Daily
January 15, 2026
Author of the New York Times bestseller, Clear Thinking. Nearly 1 million people read my free newsletter, packed with insights you can use in daily life.
Tip of the day
John Cincola identifies five common strategic mistakes that amateur players make and provides clear instructions on how to correct them for immediate improvement.
The most frequent error is relying too heavily on cross-court dinks without moving to cover the corresponding open space on the court.
If you hit a cross-court dink, both you and your partner must shift laterally to prevent leaving the middle of the court exposed.
You should only attempt an offensive cross-court dink when you are balanced and directly behind the ball rather than reaching for it.
Another major mistake is using lobs or speedups as desperation shots when you are off-balance or caught in a defensive position.
In defensive situations, the most reliable choice is a soft reset that forces your opponent to hit the ball from a low point.
Successful attacks from the kitchen require a checklist of being on balance, leaning in, and ensuring the ball is in front of you.
Attacking from too far behind the kitchen line gives your opponents too much reaction time and usually results in a losing exchange.
Driving the ball from the transition area is often a high-risk mistake because it ignores an easy opportunity to hit a safe drop.
Key Points:
Follow your cross-court dink by moving with your partner to close any gaps in your court coverage.
Limit cross-court dinks to offensive situations where you have a clear, balanced look at the ball.
Avoid using lobs or speedups when you are stretched wide or defensive; choose a soft reset instead.
Ensure you meet all tactical criteria, such as being on balance, before attempting an attack at the kitchen.
Take advantage of short balls in the transition zone to hit a reliable drop shot rather than a risky drive.
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Happy pickling,
Paul